Strawberry plant named `Catalina`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry named `Catalina` is described. `Catalina` is a short day cultivar with a tendency to be everbearing in more northern regions. Catalina produces a significant amount of fruit in a short period without the substantial periodic decreases characteristic of existing commercial cultivars. Additionally, `Catalina` produces abudant primary, secondary and tertiary flowers which in turn produce a high yield of well shaped, unblemished fruit as compared to commercial varieties. `Catalina` is further superior to existing cultivars in that it is adapted to grow in the soils and under the climatic conditions of all commercial strawberry growing regions in California.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type strawberry cultivar, designated `Catalina,` having an everbearing tendency. Catalina is the result of a cross of A41×Seascape (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614) made in 1991.

`Catalina` was first selected as a seedling variety at the New West Fruit Corporation, Oxnard, Calif. breeding test plot in 1993 where it was designated as 19B50. It was tested later as advanced selection B10.

`Catalina` has been propagated asexually by runners and has been tested at New West Fruit Corp. test plots throughout the various fruiting areas of California.

`Catalina` is earlier fruiting than `Chandler,` `Camarosa,` or `Selva`. It has a much earlier and stronger fruit production with larger and more consistent fruit size that is superior to `Chandler,` `Camarosa,` `Selva,` or `Seascape.` It has the unique ability to produce equally well in all curently planted commercial strawberry growing areas. As a short-day variety, it has the ability to produce a significant amount of fruit in a short period of time, without the substantial peaks and valleys that exist with commonly grown commerical varieties. It tends to produce fruit much more evenly throughout the season, without the radical size-reduction characteristicly seen in late season production of currently available strawberry cultivars. Further, `Catalina` produces a much higher number of well shaped, unblemished fruit than existing cultivars. A general comparison of the variety with `Seascape` and `Chandler` is given in Table 1.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows typical growth, flowering and fruiting characteristics of the strawberry plant of the invention.

FIG. 2A shows a typical infructescense in early fruit. FIG. 2B shows the abaxial and adaxial aspects of a typical mid-summer leaf.

FIG. 3A shows representative whole fruit. FIG. 3B shows representative fruit in cross and longitudinal section.

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS

`Catalina` plants are semi-erect in growth habit, are more vigorous than `Chandler,` `Oso Grande,` `Camarosa,` or `Selva.` Catalina plants remain much more open throughout the season than currently grown varieties. Leaflets are orbicular and dentate, with a highly waxy cuticle.

Unline existing cultivars, which display significant chlorosis throughout much of the year, the leaves of `Catalina` plants present a very strong and healthy appearance throughout the growing season, with new leaves being strongly emergent above the existing growth of the plant. Leaf color is similar to that seen in `Seascape.` It is darker than `Chandler, lighter than in `Camarosa` and `Selva,` and remains consistent in intensity throughout the growing season.

DISEASE AND PEST RESISTANCE

Catalina shows mild susceptibility to Powdery Mildew (Sphagudtheia maculatus spp. fragariae) and Angular Leaf Spot Xanthomonas fragariae). Catalina shows very good tolerance to Verticillium Wilt (Verticillium Algo-Atrum) and Phytophthora spp. Furthermore, Catalina shows good vigor in non-fumigated conditons.

FLOWERING AND FRUITING CHARACTERISTICS

The fruit of `Catalina` is initially borne on single stems with separation of primary, secondary, and tertiary fruit taking place in the crown of the plant. As the season progresses the separation of the various stages of fruit place outside the crown creating a multiple inflorescence. `Catalina` produces multicipital inflorescences with several racemes or cymes per peduncle, with no apparent loss of overall size or shape due to the amount of fruit borne on each peduncle. Inflorescences are very long and erect, standing above the plant, and drop quickly due to the weight of the fruit as it matures. `Catalina` is self-fertile, and produces more than sufficient pollen throughout the season to insure very few malformed fruit.

`Catalina` fruit is medium- to long-conic to wide-shouldered wedge-shaped, and smooth, with the occasional creased or cockscombed primary. Fruit size is very good throughout the season, with little loss of size at the various stages of development on the inflorescence; very good size is actually regained, throughout the growing season, with each new inflorescence. The fruit is generally better shaped than the fruit of `Chandler,` `Oso Grande,` `Camarosa,` `Selva,` or `Seascape.` Internally, the fruit is solid with the occasional primary fruit with having a slight cavity. Fruit color is a fine red color, slightly darker than `Chandler`, but not as dark as `Oso Grande` or `Seascape,` with good color saturation of the flesh. The interior color matches the exterior color. The achenes range from bright yellow to light red and are positioned even with the skin, which is very firm. The calyx is medium in size and tends to clasp the fruit, through it will occasionally reflex. The fruit is firm and very durable. `Catalina` has a very glossy finish and is very appealing.

`Catalina` has soluble solid readings similar to `Chandler`. The flavor of `Catalina` is excellent, and is comparable to the best flavored cultivars now grown in California. The fruiting habit and many fruit qualities of `Catalina` make it very suitable as both a fresh market and processing variety.

PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS

Production is superior to known strawberry cuultivars, both in volume and quality. Catalina plants are very vigorous, producing large, compound inflorescences with well developed primary, secondary and even tertiary fruit. Very good inflorescence size is actually regained, throughout the season, as new inflorescences are produced. Fruit quality is also excellent, with virtually all fruit produced showing enhanced shape and size, with very little blemishing. Thus, a very high percentage of fruit produced each is season can be sold.

Volume and quality of fruit is further enhanced by the strong vegetative vigor displayed by Catalina. The plants remain fresh green throughout the growing season, unlike most commercial cultivars that become tattered and chlorotic in mid and late season. Catalina is successful in both fumigated and non-fumigated fields and greenhouses. Further adding to the superiority of the hybrid is the fact that the plant can be grown successfully throughout all strawberry growing regions of California.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF `Catalina`                                         TO RELATED VARIETIES                                                                   CATALINA  CHANDLER    SEA SCAPE                                        ______________________________________                                         VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS                                                     Leaf color:                                                                              medium green                                                                               light green medium                                                                         green                                        Leaf size:                                                                               large       medium      small                                        Cuticle:  waxy, shiny dull        dull                                         Habit:    very open   dense plant,                                                                               fairly open                                            plant, with with upward plant, with                                            flat, upward                                                                               cupping leaves                                                                             flat, upward                                           cupping leaves;         cupping                                                very vigorous           leaves;                                                in growth               vigorous in                                                                    growth                                       Chilling  very low    very low    very high                                              chilling                                                             Plant     maintains fresh,                                                                           poor plant  poor plant                                   appearance:                                                                              healthy     appearance mid                                                                             appearance                                             appearance  to late season                                                                             mid to late                                            throughout              season                                                 growing season                                                       FLOWERING/FRUITING CHARACTERISTICS                                             Inflorescence:                                                                           highly      not highly  not highly                                             branched with                                                                              branched    branched,                                              numerous    limited in  limited in                                             secondary and                                                                              production of                                                                              production of                                          tertiary flowers                                                                           secondary   secondary                                              and fruits  flowers and flowers and                                                        fruits      fruits                                       Fruit shape:                                                                             medium-conic,                                                                              medium-to   medium-to                                              with little long-conic, long-conic,                                            malformation in                                                                            with significant                                                                           with signifi-                                          late season malformation in                                                                            cant malfor-                                           fruit; medium                                                                              late season mation in late                                         calyx       fruit; small to                                                                            season fruit;                                                      medium calyx                                                                               small-medium                                                                   calyx                                        Fruit color:                                                                             dark red with                                                                              medium red  medium to                                              good saturation                                                                            flesh with  dark red,                                              in flesh    only partial                                                                               flesh not well                                                     fruit saturation                                                                           saturated                                    Flesh character:                                                                         good firmness                                                                              good firmness                                                                              fair firmness                                Seed:     seeds even with                                                                            seeds raised as                                                                            Seeds even                                             fruit surface                                                                              compared to with fruit                                                         fruit surface                                                                              surface                                      Fruit set:                                                                               strong early,                                                                              strong early,                                                                              fair, building                                         short day   very peaked to fall                                      ______________________________________                                     

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of strawbery plant described and illustrated and having the characteristics enumerated above. 